Sabres still shopping Miller with trade deadline looming

A person familiar with discussions told The Associated Press that general manager Tim Murray continues to pursue offers for Miller with the intention of trading him by next week.

“Tim is testing the waters as hard as he can,” the person said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because Murray declined to speak to reporters Monday.

The person said the team’s first option is trading Miller, who is in the final year of his contract and eligible to become an unrestricted free agent. Option No. 2, the person added, would be making a bid to re-sign Miller if a trade can’t be completed.

Murray, who took over the Sabres last month, had previously not ruled out trading Miller or anyone else on the roster.

“This team’s in last place right now,” Murray said, during his inaugural news conference on Jan. 9. “Everybody can be traded.”

That means Miller isn’t the only player with an uncertain future on a Sabres team that, at 15-34-8, remains in last place coming out of the NHL Olympic break.

Captain Steve Ott, veteran winger Matt Moulson and defenceman Henrik Tallinder are also in the final years of their contracts and could be used as trade bait by a team intent on building through youth.